Dining Out Means Giving More

by Chris Becicka

One great thing about Ingram’s annual philanthropy issue is that it causes us to think about giving to those less fortunate than we are. Some of our most creative and prolific givers are the same people we count on to wine and dine us, for money.

In that circular chain, it occurs to me that the money we spend eating out can end up in the coffers of many worthy agencies and organizations working to improve Kansas City and our world. Doesn’t that make you feel better about your dining out expenses?

You might be surprised to hear how so many restaurants do so much to help out others. Yes, sometimes it’s good publicity, but the real reason most of them participate is that they feel called to do it. It’s part of who they are, both corporately and individually.

Restaurants are particularly important to Harvesters which feeds thousands of people every year through many efforts. A major event for more than a decade is Forks and Corks, where proceeds from the restaurants’ delectables go to area food banks. Kansas City restaurants have whole-heartedly and without reserve adopted this worthy cause, according to Joanna Sebelien, Chief Resource Officer at Harvesters. Some of these, and others, also participate in the Food Rescue program. Fazoli’s, Jack Stack Barbeque, Ameristar, Olive Garden, Red Lobster, Pizza Hut, the New Theater and others donate thousands of pans of food after they’ve prepared and frozen them.

Sebelien can name all the people who have been huge help over the years but the list is too long for a short article. She mentions barrels in restaurants like Minsky’s, Chipotle Mexican Grill or EBT into which people drop nearly 100,000 pounds of food of year. The “Iron Fork” award is given annually to one of ten chefs who are given one box of pantry staples, one mystery ingredient, and one hour to create an entrée. The numerous other restaurant-supported events include food drives, chef talks, web sites, radio promotions, auction items, contest judging and more.

There are many worthwhile causes, of course. Jimmy Frantze, owner of JJ’s and just named Restaurateur of the Year by the Missouri Restaurant Association, is probably the favorite person of The Leukemia and Lymphoma Association. On the board for the last 20 years after his nephew’s death of the disease, he does nearly a dozen events for the association each year from small to large—“whatever they need.”  He says he does it because, “It’s a tremendous charity and I want to do something for it.” He also is vitally active in Shook Hardy’s “First Down for Downs Syndrome” and participates in the philanthropic programs of the Kansas City Originals, the area’s association of independent restaurants.

Lloyd Booth at Melbee’s, another member of the Originals, also partners with a variety of charitable organizations. He refers some of the regular requests for donations to the association whose committee votes monthly on who should receive donations from the 46 member group. He personally works with others on a monthly basis, such as the Special Olympics or Seamless Dance Organization. He echoes others who say they only want “to do something meaningful.”

Operation Breakthrough, offering quality childcare and other services to 674 children of the city’s working poor, identified Kevin Ryan, owner of Governor Stumpy’s Grillhouse as one of its key benefactors. For the last six years, he, Tom O’Malley, and the Ancient Order of Hibernians have put on a Celtic Block party in his restaurant’s parking lot during Memorial Day weekend. After

a couple years of losses when Ryan still wrote a check to the center, this family event has morphed over the last few years to become a more lucrative tradition for the child care center—one that has donated nearly $15,000 to that cause.

So the final words from this food critic: eat out often! You’re supporting the food service economy and our city’s philanthropic needs. (Just don’t forget eating out is not enough!)